Woodland Food Closet raises $37,077 during holidays

The Woodland Food Closet's Season of Caring campaign may have had a slow start but raised several thousands of dollars over its goal of $30,000.

The grand total for the campaign was $37,077 where $14,730 was raised in the final weeks of the holidays.

"We were very pleased and rather shocked that we did as well as we did," said Food Closet Coordinator Gaye Nakken. "The season was short this year between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I think that's why things were slow."

Over the first two weeks or so, around $8,000 had been raised and just after Christmas, the total was about $22,000. Nakken said Food Closet volunteers and board members were "very concerned" but then the campaign started receiving larger checks.

While many of the donations are from the same families and individuals year after year, the Food Closet "got several rewards from family foundations that (it) had not received before" and "several businesses came forward and helped us out," Nakken said.

She noted that economic conditions may be stronger for some families so they may be able to donate more while others understand "the Food Closet is very local," which also helped with donations. The Food Closet was also accepting donations on its website, www.woodlandfoodcloset.org, this past season.

"We were amazed and so pleased and so thankful," Nakken said, still surprised days after the final tally.

The additional funding will help keep the program going with no cutbacks in what individuals and families receive from the Food Closet. It was "a better year" on all levels, she said, noting that food and in-kind donations were also up.

"The $37,000 is going to help us maintain our level of giving for the next several months," she said.

The Woodland Food Closet will hold an appreciation dinner on Thursday, Jan. 30, at the Elks Lodge.